Amanda Ripley

The Smartest Kids in the World

1. IDEA 1

   Some countries teach far better

   Ripley, a journalist, investigates why students in some countries perform much better on international tests than American students. She follows three American teenagers studying abroad in Finland, South Korea and Poland.

2. IDEA 2

   International tests reveal gaps

   Ripley uses PISA, an international test of fifteen-year-olds, to compare education systems. The results surprised many. In her account, the comparisons showed that some countries with fewer resources got better results than richer ones.

3. IDEA 3

   Finland trusts teachers

   Ripley describes how Finland trains teachers rigorously and gives them respect and freedom. Schools there are demanding but calm. In her account, this mix of high standards and trust in teachers helped students think deeply and enjoy learning.

All 8 ideas from The Smartest Kids in the World →